News & Events

(ELKHORN, WI): The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will host a Community Conversation centered around dementia care needs in our communities on Friday, November 18, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. This listening session is an opportunity for the community to share their experiences with dementia care to influence the development of the 2024-2028 Wisconsin State Dementia Plan. Through these conversations, we hope to identify challenges and solutions that will help us improve our dementia care systems.

“Your opinion matters and is vital in helping develop the 2024 to 2028 State Dementia Plan,” says Dementia Care Specialist Jake Sawyers. “Your feedback is important in helping us assess community dementia care needs and build a dementia care system that works for everyone.”

In 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) published the 2019-2023 State Dementia Plan. The plan focused on four key areas: care in the community, health care, crisis response, and facility-based care. Despite the significant challenges caused by the pandemic, many of the plan’s initiatives, projects, and programs stemming have been created, including guides for dementia-friendly communities and businesses, grant programs to fund caregiver support groups, expansion of research hubs in rural areas, memory screening programs, a brain health curriculum for K-12 schools, the statewide dementia care specialist program, new opportunities to train certified nurse aides, and increased funding for long-term care agencies. DHS is now working with the Steering Committee, leadership teams, and communities to build on these successes and identify remaining challenges as they develop the 2024-2028 State Dementia Plan.

The Community Conversation will be held at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building, 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn. Please call (262) 741-3273 if you are unable to attend in person and would like to attend virtually via Zoom.

About the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Fort HealthCare.

Fort HealthCare (FHC) Board of Directors announced today that Michael Anderson, MD, will transition to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President in January 2023. Mary Behling, chair of the Fort HealthCare Board of Directors, stated, “We’re excited about the talent and perspective that Dr. Anderson brings to Fort HealthCare in his new role as CEO. He has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the highest standards of care and improving the health of the community, and we’re confident that his leadership will position the organization well going forward.”

Anderson has held numerous positions within Fort HealthCare since 2003 in addition to his role as an Otolaryngologist at the FHC ENT clinic. Besides Chief of Surgery, Medical Director of Perioperative Services, and Chief of Staff, he has also served on the FHC Board of Directors for nine years and most recently held the position of Sr. VP, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

Anderson stated, “Healthcare is evolving at a rapid pace. I’m honored to step into this role and navigate that future for the organization. As a physician, I understand the importance of quality and value-based healthcare, while sustaining medical excellence to the community. Fort HealthCare has a very bright future, and I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of it.”

The current CEO and President, Michael Wallace, will be retiring at the end of the year. He has been with FHC since 2006 and will continue in an advisory role for the next year. Under his leadership, Fort HealthCare has received several recognitions, such as Top Workplace from the Journal Sentinel, Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center, and a 5-Star rating from CMS. In addition, Wallace has worked closely with the Wisconsin Hospital Association for the past 10 years and served as Board Chair in 2016. He was honored with the prestigious “Distinguished Service Award” by WHA last year.

When asked about what he is most proud of, Wallace said, “The people. We have a strong culture at FHC that has allowed us to make a difference in the health of Jefferson County. Any recognition or successes we’ve had are a direct reflection of everyone who makes FHC what it is — the board, the providers, the staff, and the community. We have a strong management team and Dr. Anderson is uniquely positioned to lead FHC over the next decade.” He adds, “FHC has been the joy of my professional career. I’m fortunate that my family and I found our way to Fort Atkinson! I look forward to staying involved with the community.”

To learn more about Michael Anderson, MD, visit https://www.forthealthcare.com/physician/michael-anderson-otolaryngologist-ent/.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

Rollie Cooper was recognized for his tremendous achievements and work on behalf of the children of Whitewater. Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club members Jean Bromley, Lorrie Koppein and Patrick Taylor presented Rollie Cooper with a Municipal Commendation and declared October 30, 2022 to be “Rollie Cooper Day.”

Following is the proclamation:

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Pamela Sonmor-Wintz, National Honor Society Advisor.

Whitewater High School established the Minneiska Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) in 1956 to inspire enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership, and encourage the development of character in high school students. NHS has become a prestigious organization ranking high among college admission officers, scholarship committees, high school faculty and administrators, students, parents, and residents of our community.  For many, selection as a member of the National Honor Society is the pinnacle of achievement in school.  This honor, recognized throughout the nation, is both the public recognition of outstanding accomplishments and the private commitment to continued excellence on the part of each new member.

Eight juniors and five seniors will become new members of the National Honor Society at Whitewater High School this year during an Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, November 30. These students have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, and service to their school and community and have worked extremely hard to achieve at the highest level in school. 

Congratulations to the new members of the Whitewater High School National Honor Society!

Brenda Aguilar

Andrea Alcala

Allison Alvarado

Aidyn Amundson

Dayna Carlson

Anders Clarksen

Danielle DePorter

Emerson Ellenwood

Marina Linos

Kayla Mikos

Mayte Navejas

Davin Parboteeah

Evelyn Troxel

Senior members inducted in December 2021

 Tyler Arnett – Treasurer

Brandan Haas

Kindyl Kilar – Secretary

Cali Kopecky

Jake Kuhlow

Alexandra Martin

Courtney Meyer

Aileen Perez – President

Jenna Pope

Ashlynn Prah

Skylar Staebler

Josephine Treder – Vice President

Karime Velazquez

Maria Verduzco

Caleigh Yang

For more information about the Whitewater High School National Honor Society, please see the following website:  https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/whsnationalhonorsociety/home

Editor’s note: The following news release was received from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Carter Waelchli from Whitewater, WI, who is studying Theatre Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a member of the creative team, serving in the role of Sound Designer in “Grounded” by George Brant.

This is Carter Waelchli’s first design role in a show at Whitewater. He began composing during the COVID-19 pandemic and is excited to share his work with you! He’d like to thank Ruth Conrad-Proulx for her support and guidance throughout the process, and he hopes you enjoy the show.

The production, directed by Bruce Cohen, will run at Hicklin Studio Theatre in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 3-4 at 2 p.m.

An unexpected pregnancy ends an ace fighter pilot’s career in the sky. Reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns to her family each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries begin to blur between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away.

Tickets are on sale for the performances in Hicklin Studio Theatre and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. The Hicklin Studio Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Please be aware this production features adult language and themes.

Editor’s note: The following charges from the police blog in Lake Zurich, IL were reported in the Lake Zurich Courier.

Oscar Lopez-Fajardo, 29, of the 200 block of North Fraternity Lane, Whitewater, Wisconsin, was charged November 12 with driving while license suspended, attempted possession of a controlled substance, operating an uninsured vehicle and having no vehicle registration following an incident at Route 12 and Ela Road. Lopez-Fajardo is scheduled to appear in court December 6 in Waukegan.

Lisvania Moreno-Menis, 20, of the 700 block of West Walworth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin, was charged November 12 with forgery and unlawful possession of a fraudulent identification card following an incident at Route 12 and Ela Road.